First Look: Reinventing the Lower East River

An exclusive glimpse at the shoreline revamp.

By the end of the year, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and State Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh expect to announce plans to transform the East River shoreline from the Brooklyn Bridge to 38th Street into a more accessible “Blueway.” “For too long, the river has been forgotten. It’s hidden behind a highway suffering from years of disinvestment and neglect,” says Stringer. The firm behind the transformation, WXY Architecture + Urban Design, spent the past year brainstorming ideas with local residents and organizations. Its goal, said principal Claire Weisz, is to “bring nature to the city.” WXY has granted New York Magazine an exclusive preview of some of the proposed plans.